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Entry Requirements:
Nationals of all EU countries, as well as those from Australia, Canada, Ireland, Israel,
New Zealand and the USA can stay up to three months in any six month period without a visa.
When to Go: Portugal's climate is temperate, and you'll find agreeable weather just about everywhere from April to October, and nearly year-round in the Algarve, which boasts around 3,000 hours of sunshine annually. Average daytime temperatures range from 57 degrees in January to 82 degrees in August. Overall the wettest season is from November to March: the soggiest regions are in the extreme north and in the Serra da Estrela mountain region in the country's center. The ski season is from January to March but February is best. Peak tourist season is roughly from mid-June to September, except in the Algarve where it really only quiets down in the dead of winter. Carnival and Easter are two holidays celebrated with gusto all over the country and are worth going out of your way for. Health Risks: Sunburn in summer Electric Current: 220V, 50Hz Language: The official language is Portuguese, but many persons in larger cities and at resorts speak English. The Portuguese are exceptionally hospitable and eager to help; those who don’t speak English are generally amenable to deciphering sign language. Driving: Apart from the few turnpikes and major highways between Lisbon and the Algarve, Oporto, and Guincho beyond Cascais alongside the river Tagus, road conditions in Portugal are poor. The roads are winding and surfaces are unpredictable, so drive carefully. Driving is on the right. Speed limits on highways are 120kph (approx. 72mph); on other roads it is either 90kph (54mph) or 50-60kph (30-36mph).Parking lots are available in Lisbon, Oporto and other major cities at a comparatively small hourly fee. Parking at the side of city streets is limited. Parking in the country is unlimited but on narrow roads, it is wise to draw in as much as possible and avoid curves. Gas prices are among the highest in Europe. Money and Costs: The unit of currency in Portugal is the escudo, which can be divided into 100 centavos. (In Portugal, the dollar sign stands between the escudo and the centavo, as in something costing 53$20.The exchange rate varies, but at time of printing was US$1 = 170 escudos. Costs here are about half of what they are in the rest of Europe; produce is fresh and few luxury foodstuffs are imported, so dining is relatively inexpensive. For example, a budget meal would run US$4-6; in a better restaurant, it might cost US$8-10. A sales tax (VAT) of 17% is imposed on restaurant and car rental bills, as well as services. Banks are open weekdays from 8:30am-11:45am and from 1:00pm-2:45pm. Though travelers checks are easily exchanged, and at rates about 1% better than for cash, they are very poor value in Portugal because additional fees are so high - sometimes up to 13% for a US$100 check.. The exception is American Express travelers checks, which can be exchanged commission-free with Amex agents. Plastic is overall a more sensible alternative and there are Multibancos (ATMs) in all tourist centers of any size where you can withdraw cash from credit and debit accounts. Keeping a small cash stash in US dollars is a very good idea. Telephones: Pay phones work with 2$50, 5$00 and 25$00 coins, 7$50 is the minimum for short local calls. Long distance calls cost less from 8:00pm to 8:00am. Post Offices: Country post offices close for lunch and at 6:00pm weekdays; they are not open on weekends. Most post offices in town are open all day until 6:30pm. In Lisbon, the post office in the Restauradores is open 24 hours. Tipping: If you're not satisfied with the service, a reasonable restaurant tip is about 10%. For a snack, a bit of loose change is enough. Taxi drivers appreciate about 10% of the fare. Shopping: Shops are open weekdays from 9:00am-1:00pm and from 3:00pm-7:00pm. On Saturdays, the hours are 9:00am-1:00pm. Shopping malls in Lisbon and other cities remain open until 10:00pm or midnight and are often open on Sunday. A large proportion of the goods in Portugal are handmade and crafts flourish. Leave space in your suitcase to bring home examples of Portugal’s wonderful pottery and fascinating basketwork , as well as its azulejos (highly glazed tiles). Embroidered carpets are a specialty of Arraiolos, and embroidered table and bed linens, blouses and dresses vary in style, depending on the area in which they are made. Portugal is also renowned for its Fine shoes and other leather goods, as well as its gold and silver filigree jewelry. Good- humored bargaining is acceptable in markets but you'll find the Portuguese tough opponents. Activities: Water sports such as swimming, snorkeling, windsurfing and big-game fishing are popular along the Algarve Coast while surfing is big along the west coast. Southern Portugal is dense with championship-standard golf courses. Other activities include hiking and pony trekking in the Serra da Estrela and Peneda-Gerês regions. Museum Hours: Museums are usually open from 10:00am-5:00pm; some close for lunch and on Mondays. At palaces, closing hours vary. |
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Barclay International Group offers general supplemental services, such as travel insurance and inexpensive car rentals in Portugal. For more information, check out our Supplemental Services Page. |
| One caveat: We have written our property reference pages to be as concise as possible. Therefore, if an amenity is NOT listed, chances are it is not offered by the property. Though we attempt to be as accurate as possible and ask each property to recheck the information that they have provided, breakdowns in communications can occasionally occur. For that reason, Barclay International Group cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies contained in the information. If you do uncover mistakes in our information, please bring them to our attention so we may correct them as soon as possible. Also, rates occasionally change mid-season due to currency fluctuations and so forth; we cannot guarantee rates until actual bookings are placed. Consider the rates contained in our rate sheets to be approximate rate guidelines, rather than figures carved in stone. We have included links to country and city information in our pages. While we will attempt to verify these links on a regular basis, we would certainly appreciate it if anyone discovering a non-operational link brings this information to our attention. Thank you. |
